Gerald McCoy: Reissuing No. 93 shows how Bucs feel about me

After defensive tackle Gerald McCoy signed with the Panthers early this month, he said he would “never say anything bad” about the Buccaneers despite the fact that they released him this year.

McCoy might not be dishing dirt on the team left and right, but he isn’t entirely at peace with how things went down with the team. The Bucs signed Ndamukong Suh shortly after releasing McCoy and gave him No. 93, which McCoy wore for each of his nine seasons in Tampa.

During an appearance on FOX Sports 1, McCoy said he understood the need to sign a player like Suh to fill the open spot on the defensive line. He took issue with giving No. 93 to a player on a one-year contract after the team held off on giving away the numbers of players like Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber, Lee Roy Selmon and John Lynch in the past.

“When all these guys left, they nobody wore their number,” McCoy said. “It was a sign of respect. I’m one of the best players to ever play in the organization. I’m gonna say it, usually I wouldn’t but so what. It kinda shows the respect and how they feel about me. I think it does. . . . It may seem like it’s just a number, but it’s bigger than that. It’s respect and that was a big part of the separation between me and Tampa. The respect they showed to me all offseason, it just wasn’t there.”

McCoy said he had no contact with anyone from the Bucs other than head coach Bruce Arians unless he ran into them at the team’s facility and also took issue with Arians going public with his uncertainty about how hard McCoy works rather than speaking to him about it personally. McCoy said the “silence speaks volumes” about how the team viewed him.

As you’d expect given those comments, McCoy said he’s looking forward to facing the Buccaneers during the 2019 season. He won’t have to wait long as his new team hosts his old one on Thursday night in Week Two.

Would someone please remind me what he won while with Tampa? The guys he mentioned are either HOF’s, HOF finalists, SB winners, or multi All Pro/Pro Bowlers (back when going to the Pro Bowl actually meant something). He’s correct. He was a very good player for them. Let’s not get carried away though. I’ll happily admit I’m wrong if the Team is not re-issuing Martin Grammitca’s number and they are readily handing out McCoy’s…

This jersey number thing is stupid. Suh wore 93 in college at Nebraska, he wore it with the Dolphins, and he wore 93 last year with the Rams. The reason Suh didn’t get 93 with the Lions too was because Kyle Vanden Bosch already had it before Suh was drafted. He likes wearing 93. There’s nothing sinister here.

Sorry, I like GMC and all, but he isn’t in the same category as the guys he mentions. Though, to be fair, the Bucs could have given Suh a different number, instead of one worn by a popular player for the last 9 seasons, and saved 93 for next season…this feels like they’re thumbing their noses at GMC in a way.

mogogo1 says:
June 19, 2019 at 6:14 pm
He was only first team All-Pro 3 times. Laughable he thought there was any possibility of them retiring his number.
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John Lynch, Ronde Barber, and Mike Alstott were “only” 1st team all-pro three times as well.

I’m sorry Gerald, this is a case of just plain sour grapes. McCoy yo are better than that. This is not a case of the Bucs players or fans tuning their back on you. This is only Bruce Arians telling you what he thinks of you.

Gerald is taking this too personally. This is more about Suh being a great enough player to wear the number he wants even if it’s awkward for McCoy and the Bucs. They would not have given the number to just any guy. Suh was drafted before McCoy and has a few more sacks and almost 200 more tackles than McCoy. If McCoy defines himself as a “great” player, than Suh is as “great” or “greater”

I love the type of player that knows how to leave a team with his head held high and not say anything derogatory about his previous employer that paid him 10’s of millions of dollars. McCoy is not one of them.

This article is enough to show why they got rid of him. Wanted a culture change away from the crying and boohooing. Go be a Panther! Quit worrying about the Bucs man! Want revenge? Beat them on the field. You’ve had a solid career. But not gonna even put you in the same HOF talk as some of those other guys…not even close. GO BE A PANTHER!

mogogo1 says:
June 19, 2019 at 6:14 pm
He was only first team All-Pro 3 times. Laughable he thought there was any possibility of them retiring his number.
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John Lynch, Ronde Barber, and Mike Alstott were “only” 1st team all-pro three times as well
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They were also leaders on a the teams only super bowl.

Dude, the Panthers are paying your salary. Show them a little respect. Focus on what they’re trying to do. If your mind is still in Tampa, then quit the Panthers and give them their money back. Respect works both ways. Where’s your respect?

He was a solid and sometimes spectacular player for them but I don’t recall him changing games or willing the team to victory. He said that he didn’t really care about Suh getting the number after he signed with Carolina, now he feels disrespected. There’s Selmon and Sapp as far as D-linemen then you can go McCoy. He wasn’t the force that those 2 were, I don’t think he has a valid argument beyond ego or emotion

Can’t wait for that panthers/bucs match up. I understand where you’re coming from Gerald McCoy I’m one of the few people on this board who actually has empathy for the players. Great interview by Skip & Shannon also

I wonder what he thought about last season when his OWN TEAMMATES didn’t even vote him to be a team captain.

That’s all you need to know about Gerald McCoy. You fans from other teams can talk all you want about how the Bucs are dumb to let him go. But can you name the two defensive captains from last year’s horrible defense?

McCoy is a loafer. Never made a splash play in his life. Good riddance. He’ll only last one season in Carolina. They’ll figure him out quickly.

agree with him in the Player context and also the timing..McCoy’s locker probably still smells like his cologne…but that’s where your head is at right now??? Duuude..now i see why the Pat’s Passed!
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Pats fan get over yourself. Your team wasn’t one of the teams he was even choosing from. It was Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Panthers. Everyone knows that except delusional Pats fan who thinks everyone wants to join their team and if they don’t it’s because the team didn’t want them. Please stop.

This kind of talk is why many of us wanted him gone. Great players don’t need to make comments like that. He used to always tell the media that he was the leader of the defense and team also. Leaders just go out and lead and their teammates make it clear who the leader is. I never once heard another Buc say that GMac was a leader on or off the field. Last year he wasn’t even voted a Captain. The guy is whiny and soft. This team, especially the defense needed a kick in the pants and an attitude adjustment. Cutting bait with McCoy was a necessary start. I personally don’t think his number ever deserves to be retired here,

No Gerald, the Bucs paying you in excess of 100 Million dollars over the past eight years with no post season appearances showed you how the Bucs felt about you. Jersey number 93 made it easier for the organization to identify one of the many reasons why…good luck in NC G-Mac.

Oh man, are these modern players a big bunch of babies, or what? McCoy sounds like a little kid who didn’t get his way so he’s throwing a hissy fit.
I didn’t even know what number McCoy wore at Tampa, because I never considered him a great player. He was a good player, but great? Not in my book.
Move on Mccoy. You are a Panthers player now and your concentration should be on learning their defense and helping them win.

I’m the only guy here on McCoy’s side i think. Sure, he’s not a HOF player, and that comparison is a bad one. But this guy has been one of the best players on a pretty bad team for a long time. His contract expired, the team said nothing to him privately and nothing about him publicly. Then they sign Suh and give him 93, while McCoy is still a free agent! I don’t care who you are, you are going to feel disrespected in that situation.

I think it’s a classless move. McCoy reacting this way isn’t doing himself any favours, but I still think Tampa could have done better. At least hold tight on issuing out 93 until McCoy signs somewhere else, I don’t think that’s too much to ask.

He has reason to be upset. He was the organization’s backbone for a long time. The least they can do is show him some respect and acknowledge his time there. I don’t think that’s asking much. He was a helluva player on a lot of bad teams. Played with consistency.

His contract expired, the team said nothing to him privately and nothing about him publicly. Then they sign Suh and give him 93, while McCoy is still a free agent! I don’t care who you are, you are going to feel disrespected in that situation.

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You’re clueless like Gerald. His contract didn’t expire. He was still under contract for 3 more seasons at an average of $10M per year. That’s way more than he is worth so the Bucs tried to renegotiate – McCoy confirms this in interview – it didn’t work out so they cut him.

Just because he was supposedly the best player on a bad team doesn’t mean he’s owed anything. The Bucs paid him more than $110M for his time in Tampa. 5th highest paid defensive player in NFL history. As for him complaining about the coaches not contacting him — he didn’t even show for voluntary workouts as he has in the past. He didn’t want to be there just as much as the Bucs didn’t want him. McCoy is a baby. He called out Jenna Laine of ESPN for tweeting soon after his signing with Carolina that it was no coincidence that he signed with Carolina less than 1 hour after the Bucs gave Suh the 93 jersey. Yet here he is saying how he felt disrespected.

McCoy fooled casual fans like you. Watch the tape. He isn’t a game changer. He loafs a lot during games. Move on. He’ll only last one season in Carolina as soon as they figure out what all informed Bucs fans have know for years.

Oh – and his teammates didn’t even vote him as a team captain in 2018. Why hasn’t anyone asked him why that is?

vaphinfan says:
June 19, 2019 at 8:29 pm
mogogo1 says:
June 19, 2019 at 6:14 pm
He was only first team All-Pro 3 times. Laughable he thought there was any possibility of them retiring his number.
______________________________________________

John Lynch, Ronde Barber, and Mike Alstott were “only” 1st team all-pro three times as well
++++++++++++++
They were also leaders on a the teams only super bowl
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You are 100% correct but that wasn’t what the first poster said. He said McCoy was “only” first team all pro 3 teams, meaning by that standard you have to be all pro more than 3 times to have your number retired in Tampa.

I have no skin in this fight as a Vikings fan. I couldn’t care less what Bucs fans think of Gerald McCoy. I am just calling about a silly post.

He should take it as a compliment. Suh is a better player who has accomplished more than McCoy has in the NFL. He should be proud they gave the number to such a strong player and not some 3rd stringer or camp body.

“I never once heard another Buc say that GMac was a leader on or off the field”

You don’t listen to 620 or watch News Channel 8 or Fox 13 in Tampa then buddy.
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Actually, the first person I heard say what you quoted from me is Ian Beckles on 620. He said that GMac’s opponents don’t fear him and that his teammates don’t consider him a leader. Sure, any player when interviewed will say the right thing, but it’s obvious. They didn’t even vote him a captain last year on a defense full of subpar talent. The voted captain isn’t even here anymore.

Hey snookau, you seem like you have a little more invested in this one than I do. You’re right, the organization had no obligation to behave differently. Maybe you think that McCoy acting the way he did justifies the actions of the Bucs. Maybe you think there’s nothing wrong with handing out his number right away.

To me, it’s insulting. I think class shouldn’t be a matter of circumstance. Not the end of the world, not a terrible act in any way, just a missed opportunity to stay on the high road for a couple more weeks.

I see where he’s coming from. Not too different than buying your girl some lingerie, you all have some fun with it for awhile, then she breaks up with you and uses that same lingerie with your replacement. Can’t the guy feel a little hurt?

I’m sorry…like McCoy or not everything he said was ridiculous. You don’t group yourself in with HOF/SB champion players when you yourself have won nothing. The only thing he was ever “GREAT” at was self promotion. Must have been really been butt hurt when his own teammates took away his Captain positions last year.

Geez, with the comments on this article, why would anyone want to play ten years for Bucs fans? McCoy didn’t say anything really terrible-slightly exaggerated, sure, prideful, arguably, but he did not insult any of the fans or any people by name. These posts are really pretty disgraceful. If you thought he wasn’t the money, that’s fine, most players aren’t anyway, but at least show the guy some respect. Arians was much more personal than McCoy has been since his release, and yet McCoy is getting all the backlash. If you committed ten years to a team that did not perform well, and were likely the best player on the team during that time (yes, yes, I know, you think he was terrible or a bust or a disappointment, but a three time First Team All-Pro IS actually an accomplishment), you might be hurt that they’re so willing to forget you, money or not.

There’s a classy way to handle things and a not classy way. The first doesn’t depend on the second. You can acknowledge that McCoy is not who he once was while still not dancing on his grave. Geez.

That’s the point. McCoy has been promoted as the “best player on this team” for 10 years. Lavonte David isn’t the “look at me, komono wearing ice cream eating batman infatuated self anointed leader” like McCoy thought of himself as but never was, but David has been the most consistent, best player on this defense basically since he was drafted.

Lavonte’s stats mirror and in some cases are slightly better than Derrick Brooks’ first 7 years. McCoy is statistically 50-60% of what Sapp was.

McCoy, apparently, has spent most of the last 5 years reading his own press clippings. He peaked 5 years ago, some combination of physical decline and fat cat syndrome, which will happen once you’ve banked $110,000,000, has set in since then.

Well, looks, I’ll agree that Lavonte David is the best player on that defense, but it’s not like McCoy was some scrub that was there two years like these posters are making him out to be. Yes, he should have put more effort in his later years and yes he benefited from favorable press, but the amount of sheer hatred is a bit too much. It’s not like the Bucs were exactly kind to him, either. Money or not, you still respect your players I mean, it’s not like McCoy pulled a LeVeon Bell or an Antonio Brown on the Bucs. And, again, while he did make an enormous amount of money that was a bit much for what the Bucs got out of it, he still hasn’t made any of it personal about Arians or the Bucs organization, which is more than I can say for the other side. The responses here are a bit over the top.